‘Wagas’ pays tribute to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago

GMA News TV’s Wagas pays homage to the late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago by featuring her love story this tonight at 7 p.m., top billed by her good friend Heart Evangelista-Escudero.

Highly intellectual, strong-willed, and outspoken, former Senator Defensor-Santiago was widely regarded as one of the most powerful stateswomen the nation has ever known. However, only a few realize that the controversial lawmaker was also a devoted wife to lawyer Jun Santiago for more than four decades.

Geoff Eigenmann plays Defensor-Santiago’s husband in a love story that goes all the way back to the hallways of University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City.

The feisty senator did not initially dream of settling down. In fact, her ambition was to become a nun. Despite having many admirers, her focus in college was the university publication, as the first female editor-in-chief of The Philippine Collegian. Her charm caught the eye of the rich, campus heartthrob Jun, who initially failed to impress the passionate campus journalist. But with his genuine love, patience, and persistence, he later won her heart.

From being a new lawyer to becoming a wife, a mother, and later a political icon, Defensor-Santiago always had her husband by her side. After 40 years of being together, the couple renewed their marriage vows last June 2011.

This year, the couple celebrated their 45th anniversary. With the passing of the Senator on Thursday, the vow to their undying love has been fulfilled.

Witness one of the most memorable episodes of Wagas, “The Iron Lady’s Love”, at 7 p.m. on GMA News.